The QuarTerly FALL 2020
MAGAZINE
FALLING INTO PLACE REDISCOVER YOUR REGION SUPPORTING OUR NEIGHBOURS
Discover the Region on Two Wheels 7
Garden Trends 10 - 11
Meatless Meat & Food Trends 14
Vaudreuil-Soulanges MRC Town Name Origins 16 – 17
Vaudreuil-Soulanges – A Haven for Animals both Wild & Domestic 19
Fundamental Photographic Framework 20 - 21
Vaudreuil-Soulanges Trivia Quiz 22
Good News on Climate Change 25
How to Plant a Garden Insects Love 27
Is proud to present its Quarterly ONLINE Magazine supporting and promoting local businesses
www.yourlocaljournal.ca *Photos courtesy shutterstock, unless otherwise indicated
Message from our Publisher D
ear readers,
loyal advertisers and our readers who have allowed us to bring this project to fruition. We couldn’t do this without our gracious community. Please know that we take the trust that you place in The Journal very seriously and we work hard every week to produce the best product possible. Our aim with this magazine is to focus on local events, stories, and entertainment pieces and maybe a surprise or two. We hope you enjoy this first bundle of joy. We welcome your feedback, any notes or suggestions can be sent directly to me at admin@yourlocaljournal.ca Sincerely,
Everyone at The Journal is excited to present you with the much anticipated launch of our first on-line magazine! Its production – like most projects – was not without its bumps in the road. We first brainstormed the idea of a secondary project back in November of 2019 during a sales retreat. Though our original goal was to launch on April 1, 2020, the coronavirus had different plans for us. After having to push the release date by many months, we’re so pleased that the magazine is now available. We’ve christened our new venture ‘The Quarterly’ echoing the progressive approach of our newspaper (The Journal) and it expresses that each new edition will arrive every three months. We look forward to celebrating each season, starting with this fall edition. We would like to express our gratitude to our
Lauren Mitchell Publisher
EDITOR | CARMEN MARIE FABIO CREATIVE DIRECTOR | SABREENA MOHAMED SALES COORDINATOR | KAREN SIMMONS ADVERTISING CONSULTANT | LUCIE BRODEUR
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Ici pour la communauté • PROPERTY MANAGEMENT • ESTATE SETTLEMENTS • ELDERCARE ASSISTANCE
Here for the community
• BUSINESS MEETING MANAGEMENT
MARIE-CLAUDE
NICHOLS DÉPUTÉE DE VAUDREUIL
416, boulevard Harwood Vaudreuil-Dorion (Québec) J7V 7H4 Tél.: 450-424-6666
marie-claude.nichols.vaud@assnat.qc.ca
Gardons vive la mémoire des combattants qui ont su préserver nos droits et notre liberté. Saluons la grandeur de leur courage. Que ceux qui continuent de se battre pour cette noble cause le fassent dans l’honneur et la dignité que le sacrifice de leurs prédécesseurs leur a octroyé.
Working for the betterment of our communities
Let us keep alive the of the soldiers who preserved • Member formemory Soulanges our rights and freedom. Let us salute the magnitude of their • Coalition avenir Québec courage. May those who continue to fight for this noble cause • the Parliamentary to that the Minister of of their do it with honour andAssistant the dignity the sacrifice Health and them. Social Services (health) predecessors granted
County Office: 607, route 201, Saint-Clet (Québec) J0P 1S0 450-456-3816
Marilyne Picard Member for Soulanges Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Health and Social Services
A MESSAGE FROM PETER MP for Vaudreuil Soulanges
As your Member of Parliament, I take pride in helping to guide you through the many different federal departments, programs, and services that are here to serve you. Over the last 6 months, we have worked extremely hard to ensure that all Canadians are equipped to face the COVID-19 pandemic. There have been programs put into place for individuals, families, businesses and non-profit organizations. My team and I are here to help you to navigate the programs and to help you identify which you may be entitled to collect. Peter Schiefke, MP - Vaudreuil-Soulanges
MY TEAM AND I ARE HERE TO HELP WITH ANY OF THE FOLLOWING DEPARTMENTS: CANADA PENSION PLAN
OLD AGE SECURITY (OAS)
EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE BENEFITS (EI)
COVID EMERGENCY SUPPORT MEASURES
GUARANTEED INCOME SUPPLEMENT (OAS)
CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION
PROGRAMS FOR ENTREPRENEURS & SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS
OBTAINING A CANADIAN PASSPORT
FEDERAL CROWN CORPORATIONS
VETERANS SERVICES
CANADA REVENUE AGENCY (CRA)
CANADA SUMMER JOBS
follow me for updates /PeterSchiefkeLiberal www.PeterSchiefke.ca @Peter_Schiefke
CONTACT MY OFFICE Peter.Schiefke@parl.gc.ca 450-510-2305
VIrtual Appointments available
Proudly serving you and your family Monday: 10:00am - 4:00pm Tuesday: 10:00am - 4:00pm
Wednesday: 8:30am - 5:30pm Thursday: 8:30am - 5:30pm
Friday: 10:00am - 4:00pm Saturday & Sunday: By appointment
Discover the region on two wheels KATHERINE MASSAM
F
all is round the corner and it’s time to think about exchanging your swimsuits and flipflops for bicycle shorts as less humid conditions are more amenable for cyclists. For those who have not yet discovered this local treasure, don’t let another year go past without exploring the Soulanges Canal bike path. The Soulanges Canal is an abandoned shipping canal, in operation from 1899 to 1958. It has five locks and was built to enable larger vessels to avoid the rapids round Montreal. The bike path runs alongside the canal from Pointe-des-Cascades to Rivière Beaudette on the Ontario border. It stretches over 35km, is well-maintained, completely paved and full of surprises. It’s part of Green Route Number 5, connected to bike routes on the island of Montreal and the Waterfront Trail in Ontario Pointe-des-Cascades in itself is worth a visit. Its park, the Parc des Ancres, is situated at Lock 3 of the canal and is home to 100 anchors of all different sizes, shapes, and colours. The Theatre des Cascades is a beautiful old building with breathtaking views of the Ottawa River and Lac SaintLouis. Cycle 8km to the west, where you can
take leave the bike path and head south to the pretty village of Les Cèdres on the banks of the St-Lawrence river. Here, you’ll find a heritage building known as ‘Le Petit Pouvoir.’ This hydroelectric generating station powered the locks, swing bridges and lights on the Soulanges Canal. Its imposing rectangular structure and red bricks are reminiscent of a castle and the Ch��teau Frontenac in Quebec City. Just west of Les Cèdres èdres dres along the Chemin du Fleuve you will come across the national historic site of Coteau-du-Lac, operated by Canada Parks and situated on the banks of Lac-Saint-François. It showcases the remains of a fort dating back to the War of 1812. The location was also used for portages by First Nations’ peoples looking to avoid the rapids to the south so its history dates back 7,000 years. After this you can head back up to bike path and continue west to discover other local treasures and municipalities including St-Zotique with its amazing beach, and Rivière ère re Beaudette, a picturesque municipality on the St-Lawrence river. Nature lovers will enjoy the multitude of native trees on the path, the wild raspberry bushes and shorelines that attract many species of birds and the calm, peaceful atmosphere of the area. It’s also possible to ride a circuit that
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takes in part of the Soulanges bike path. This involves taking the Chemin du Fleuve from Pointe-des-Cascades which leads you right through the villages of Les Cèèdres and Les Coteaux. At Coteau-du-Lac, you join the Soulanges Canal bike path and return along the canal to Pointe-desCascades. The entire circuit is 44km. Please note that no dogs are allowed on the Soulanges Canal bike path. Practical information: Parking : Pointe-des-Cascades (67, chemin du Fleuve by the church) Les Cèdres (chemin Saint-Féréol, just north of the intersection with Route 338) Coteau-du-Lac (20, rue Principale) Dates open: 1st May to 15th October Contact: 1 855 424-6654 info@explorevs.com Access by river shuttles for pedestrians and bikes: Notre-Dame-de-l’Ile-Perrot to the Pointe-des-Cascades theatre. $5 for adults. Municipal quay at parc Delpha-Sauvé in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield to the municipal quay in Les Coteaux.
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ith the tumultuous year that 202o has been to date, one thing has remained constant – the need for humans to engage with the natural world via gardening and the importance of nurturing our ongoing relationship with Mother Nature. And what the garden gurus are telling them is that the significant trend for 2020s is very clear: to create a space that’s not only good for the gardener, but beneficial to the land. Sustainability Without a doubt, sustainability is the biggest trend moving forward. More and more we will be planting things that don’t require as much water or fertilizer, for example. We will be looking for plants that resist disease and insects, and need less maintenance. Regenerative gardening is a term we’ll be hearing more about—the effort of repairing garden soil with more nutrients. Composting is a big part of regenerative gardening, for example, as it helps to rebuild organic matter and restore degraded soil. And with extreme weather conditions becoming more and more frequent, we will also be paying more attention to planting flowers and shrubs that can withstand the rigours
of rain, wind, heat and drought. Native plants Part of the sustainability trend will be the increasing attention we will pay to our native plants, thereby cutting way back on both effort and failure. Choosing plants that are original to where we live means better results and lower maintenance, with these plants requiring less water, pruning and fertilizer—another goal for our garden plans for the new decade. Dwarf hybrids For on-trend gardeners living in condos or apartments and without a lot of living space, we can increasingly choose the dwarf varieties of our favourite plants. And houseplants are enjoying a wave of popularity right now as well, especially succulents. Succulents are easy to grow and require a very low level of care, and so are perfect for balcony gardening. Rewilding To encourage beneficial insects to add to the health of our gardens, we will be allowing a more natural flow say garden designers. Bushes and shrubs will be increasingly allowed to return to their natural shapes as we let nature take its course and ‘rewild’ our gardening space. Grass will be allowed to grow a little longer and a few weeds will be left to flower. Trends continue to point to
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gardeners helping protect pollinators such as butterflies, bees and hummingbirds by planting pollinator-friendly plants including milkweed, lavender and lilacs. Plants with berries that attract birds are increasingly being favoured as well. Fruit-bearing plants, ornamental vegetables and edible flowers will all find a new popularity, adding beauty as well as nutrition to any garden space. And finally, the colour blue! Every February or so, Pantone chooses a paint palette for the year, and 2020’s chosen hue was ‘classic blue.’ So it’s no surprise that flowers in all the varying shades of blue to purple will be popular not just this summer but for seasons and gardens to come. Indigo and mauve plants are the most sought-after in the garden, say the experts—from delphiniums to salvia to Russian sage. Ornamental edible berries are also going to be adding their blue tones to the landscape picture, which will also please our resident birds. Because as on-trend gardeners of the region get ready to create their beautiful gardens for the coming decade, they also have an eye focused on benefitting the natural world that is their setting. Photos by T.M. O’Shaughnessy
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Food Trends:
Meatless meat and choices galore KELLY MIYAMOTO
F
ood is something that can bring all of us together. It’s a huge part of the ways in which we socialize, engage with our histories and cultures, and take care of ourselves. Food trends are constantly changing, most of the time in the name of health. We’re always looking for that one miracle food or regimen, and the discussion is always evolving. What is considered nutritious and beneficial one day might be thought of as harmful the next, and vice versa. We tweak and adjust our concept of a healthy and balanced diet based on a variety of factors that aren’t always strictly or exclusively about food alone. The trends today are no different. Meat alternatives Current movements in cuisine and nutrition are pushing toward accommodations for various dietary types. Many restaurants and grocery stores are embracing plantbased meat substitutes and expanding their products and menus to cater to as many people as possible. It is becoming easier in a lot of places to find meat
and dairy alternatives, as well as a general wealth of non-animal products. Why the change in our approach to food? There are many different reasons for an individual to adopt a different diet and to be a more conscious consumer. Health concerns, awareness about animal cruelty in the food industry, and widespread understanding about the environmental impact of meat production are among the biggest and most common motivators. Environmental impact Because climate change is such a massive focus in society today, many are of the mindset that individuals should take responsibility for their own consumer habits as much as possible. As we continue to learn about how much the processing of meat alone affects the environment, a stance against those practices by choosing to decrease or end their meat intake is one path people can take. With the addition of questions surrounding sustainability, waste, animal ethics, and changing notions of what constitutes a healthy nutrition regimen, the popularity of plant-based diets is on the rise. And in response, more and more restaurants to-
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day are focusing specifically on vegan or vegetarian cuisine. A major hot topic at the moment surrounds the step we have taken from veggie-style protein replacements to meat substitutes that have a taste and texture comparable to the real thing. For those who enjoy the taste of meat but want to adopt a meatless diet for one reason or another, it’s good to have those options. Not just meat… Some of us also aren’t as free in our choices as others. We know more now than ever about allergies, sensitivities, nutrient requirements, and physical conditions that contribute to how we evaluate what we should eat and drink. Thankfully, that knowledge has allowed for a dramatic uptick in options and product availability. Alternative flours, oils, and gluten-free products are but a few other items that are increasingly varied these days. Whatever our decisions, reasons, or physical demands, it’s nice to know that there is a growing abundance of choice out there to help us lead happier and healthier lives.
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Vaudreuil-Soulanges MRC Town Name Origins T he 23 towns that make up the Municipalité régionale de comté Vaudreuil-Soulanges (MRC-VS) range from small, agricultural communities to burgeoning cities and each town’s name has a story as to how it originated. We’ll be looking at all the towns alphabetically over the next few issues of our online magazine. Coteau-du-Lac Coteau-du-Lac was formally created as Saint-Ignace-du-Côteau-du-Lac in 1832. The post office, one of the oldest in Canada (created in 1789) was identified as the post office of Coteau-duLac. The côte evoked by the municipal name is located on the north shore of the St. Lawrence, near the mouth of Lake Saint-François and represents a drop of 25 meters. It was opposite this place that in 1779 a canal was built to avoid the numerous rapids between Lake Saint-Louis and Lake Saint-François; a military detachment protected it from 1781. A fort was also built there
during the War of 1812 between England and the United States. Hudson Three villages: Hudson Heights, Como Est and McNaughton were merged together in 1969 to form the current town of Hudson. The name Hudson indicates the importance of the owner of a large local glassworks established in 1845, George Matthews, whose wife was named Elisa Hudson. L’Île-Cadieux The municipality of L’Île-Cadieux was established in 1922 and is named for the island on which it is situated. The island is referred to as Île à Cadieu in an unpublished document from the second half of the 19th century. This could allude to Pierre or Hyacinthe Cadieux, who owned land in the first concession of Anse de Vaudreuil at that time. It was once a popular summer resort. L’Île-Perrot This island, 30km west of Montreal
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was conceded in 1672 to FrançoisMarie Perrot (1644-1691), captain of the Picardy regiment and governor of Montreal in 1670. The town of Île-Perrot was created in 1946 and faces the municipality of Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, situated 5 km away across the Bay of Vaudreuil. Les Cèdres Les Cèdres was thus named due to the abundance of beautiful cedar trees in this area. Their presence was so remarkable that travelers and boatmen commuting between Montreal and Fort Cataraqui (Kingston) met there. The area was known as Cedars or Cedars Rapids. The area was inhabited by settlers since 1715 and very well known in New France. Les Cèdres was used to designate the post office and the railway station long before its official attribution to the village. Photo by Carmen Marie Fabio
Les Coteaux Les Coteaux designates the merger in 1994 of the villages of Coteau-Landing and Coteau-Station. Coteau-Landing was just that, a water landing place for merchants and soldiers. Coteau-Station owes its name to the Grand Tronc railway company (1855). It was first known as Coteau Junction, then Coteau Station when people started to take the train here. For a long time, the railway was the main source of income for the area. Notre-Dame-de-l’Île-Perrot Île-Perrot, has four municipalities. One of them is Notre-Dame-de-l›ÎlePerrot which covers 28 km² and occupies most of the island›s territory east of Pincourt. Like the city and the island, Notre-Dame-de-l›Île-Perrot takes its name from François-Marie Perrot (1644-1691), who took possession of it in 1672. Pincourt In the past, many travelers and navigators stopped near a pretty wooded area that covered most of the western sector of Île-Perrot. This area was adorned with a beautiful pine forest of modest dimensions, due, it is believed, to the poor soil quality. Little by little,
those who frequented the place got into the habit of saying that they were going to the Pins Courts and later Pincourt which covers the western part of ÎlePerrot. In 1950, the village municipality of Pincourt was officially established. Pointe-des-Cascades This municipality owes its name to a strip of land that juts into the waters of the Ottawa and Saint-Laurent Rivers which meet here and flow into Lake Saint-Louis, forming several waterfalls due to the existence of a significant drop. Pointe-des-Cascades was created in 1961. The area was frequented in the middle of the 17th century by military expeditions. The name Cascades appears in a text by Lahontan in 1684 and on a map of Deshayes in 1695. Pointe des Cascades first appears in documents of the seigneury of Vaudreuil in 1725. Pointe-Fortune Pointe-Fortune sits on the QuebecOntario border, on the south bank of the Ottawa River, 65km west of Montreal. The point shape on the Ottawa River partly justifies the name it has been given. The name Fortune is reputed to come from one of two sources: landowner Colonel William Fortune or militia-
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man and surveyor Joseph Fortune. In 1904, the parish of Saint-FrançoisXavier-de-Pointe-Fortune was created. The local post office bore the English name of Point Fortune in 1851, modified to its current form in 1954. Rigaud In 1995, the town of Rigaud and the parish municipality of Sainte-Madeleinede-Rigaud merged to form the new municipality of Rigaud. François-Pierre de Rigaud de Vaudreuil (1703-1779), soldier, administrator and governor of Trois-Rivières gave his name to the village municipality in 1880. Locals are proud of the sanctuary dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes, which is a very well-known place of pilgrimage. Rivière-Beaudette Rivière-Beaudette results from the merger of the municipalities of the village and the parish of Rivière-Beaudette (formerly Sainte-Claire-d’Assise) which occurred in 1990. Although official recognition of the original village municipality occurred in 1887, the name RivièreBeaudette dates back to much older times. As early as 1686, a map of Deshayes indicates Pointe au Baudet. Photos by Carmen Marie Fabio
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A haven for animals both wild and domesticated
JULES-PIERRE MALARTRE
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ur region has much to offer to people who love animals, both domesticated and wild. If you’re new to the area, you’ll soon discover it’s a haven for many species. Local bird lovers will already be familiar with Le Nichoir, our very own wild bird rehabilitation centre in Hudson. At any one time, Le Nichoir is home to many species of birds being nursed back to health before eventually being released back into nature, from geese and ducks to a number of birds of prey, including a pair of eagles. Le Nichoir’s annual Festival of Birds and Nature promotes the connection between the public and wildlife. Visitors get to walk the path of the little-known natural reserve behind Le Nichoir where a number of its avian protégés are released once they are well. Other bird haunts Pointe-du-Moulin’s Historic Park, located at the very end of Boulevard DonQuichotte in Notre-Dame-de-l’Île-Perrot, is another great area to observe birds in their natural habitat. Even though numerous housing projects have sprouted along the boulevard over the past decades, if you’re lucky enough, you might catch a sight of an owl slowly gliding over a snow-covered moonlit field, hunting down its dinner. You
can see almost 200 different species of birds at the Historic Park. Rigaud Mountain and the surrounding rural areas are also great spots for birds of prey. American kestrels, Red-tailed hawks, Snow buntings, Cooper’s hawks and Brown hawks are a familiar sight in those areas, and you might spot a Snowy owl flying over the fields in Sainte-Marthe. Alpacas and horses If you are more interested in more exotic animals, Saint-Lazare also has an alpaca ranch. It is home to no less than 50 of the adorable camelids. Their wool is prized by local weavers and it’s possible to visit the ranch by making an appointment at info@ alpagaspetitecote.com. Of course, the town is also very well known for its horse ranches. The area boasts some of the best horse riding trails in Quebec and a summer isn’t complete without a peaceful horseback ride through the wooded paths in Saint-Lazare. A haven in Sainte-Anne’s Even though they’re not in the VaudreuilSoulanges area, the Morgan Arboretum and Ecomuseum Zoo in Sainte-Anne-deBellevue are home to a number of interesting animal species. A Great horned owl once looked down on me from its perch while I was snowshoeing along the Arboretum’s lesser-known paths. And there are
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days when a hummingbird might actually buzz by your head. The Ecomuseum Zoo is home to Red foxes, Grey wolves, Snowy owls, porcupines, White-tailed deer and more. It is a must-see for all animal lovers. Cats and dogs Let’s not forget our domesticated animals that have fallen upon hard times. Many local groups are devoted to caring and rehoming our area’s abandoned cats and dogs. Animatch, CASCA and Stérile-chat are only some of the organizations that try to improve the lives of cats and dogs that are without a home. Happy tales A Horse Tale rescue organization rescues, rehabilitates, rehomes and/or retires horses in need of a second chance. This not-for-profit’s mission is dedicated to providing a safe, comfortable, and loving environment for the horses that pass through their gates and are currently running a fundraising campaign to expand their Vaudreuil-Dorion facilities to take in more horses in the future. The organization offers a program to community groups that support individuals with special and specific needs. Visits are still pending due to the vaccine but you can check beforehand at https://ahtrescue.org/en/
Fundamental photographic framework
ore
DAMON ROLOFF
L
andscapes are one of the easiest subjects for the beginning photographer. They contain a wide variety of colour, and their limitless scope offers something for every skill level. We’re lucky to live off-island with the amount of vantage points and terrains we have access to. However, capturing what we perceive as the beautiful view can be difficult at times, as most people find their landscape photography turning out subpar. Often you’ll hear the phrase, “It looked better in person,” when showing family members the pictures you’ve taken. In this article, I’ll provide numerous landscape areas, as well as tips to produce the photos you desire. The Vaudreuil-Soulanges region is brimming with trees, beaches, hills, mountains, and hidden little alcoves. Late last summer I went to Mont Rigaud with my family on one of the many hiking trails. Despite Mont Rigaud being on the smaller side as far as mountains go, there was still a surprising view to behold. At the top of the skiing hill, we all took a look back to admire the crisp, saturated reds and oranges of the leaves on the trees courtesy of the lower angle of the autumn sun. Our vantage point was just high enough to see a vast expanse of dense trees carpeting the land. This location offers so many photographic possibilities, especially in the fall. I’m from Notre-Dame-de-L’Île-Perrot
where we’re fortunate to have expanses of both forest and fields. There are trails and sights to explore and every summer I hike throughout the forested area near my house, both alone and with my dogs. You can find trails patted down in the moss and wonderful secrets and little signs other hikers have left behind. The same trails are accessible in the winter but the woods’ colour scheme takes on a different hue and reveal different photographic opportunities. Saint-Zotique is our own little slice of the Caribbean in the summer. The beach along Lac Saint-François meanders just far enough and while it may not be the ocean, it offers opportunities for any photographer, especially around sunset. Landscape photography isn’t especially difficult but our aim is to take the photos from mundane to masterpiece (or at least close to it). Let’s start with a really important step that ruins too many photos – white balance. Maybe you’ve never noticed it before, but phone pictures usually turn out too blue or too orange. Phone cameras, while greatly advancing, haven’t yet eliminated that problem. Most phones have built in photo-editing software that allows you to correct the excess orange or blue in your image, usually labeled as the ‘hue’ function. Once you correct your hue, you can always use one of the built-in filters to fine-tune your image but the aim is to start with a good foundation shot. For landscapes, a shot from a high van-
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tage point is always best. Shooting from high up allows you to capture more in the frame and reproduces the feeling of awe from the elevated vantage point. I also recommend keeping the horizon line high up in your image, so you capture more of the landscape than the sky. For forest shots, eye level is typically best. An overhead shot could work but it tends to create photos that are too visually busy and confusing to the viewer’s eye. A good way to ‘organize’ your picture is to have a line that stands out and guides your eyes, such as a trail. This helps to add a point of focus to your image and a sense of flow. Now for everyone’s favorite: beach photos. In beach shots, just a picture of the water is, well, pretty boring. Ideally, you’d want to get a picture of the shore stretching outwards, so your picture is more or less divided in half by shore and water. This, like with forest shots, helps to guide your eyes and give a flow to the picture. It’s easy to improve your photos with such little effort and soon enough you’ll be the designated photographer of your family. Good pictures come with a caveat, I suppose! White balance, vantage point, leading lines, and composition all help in creating a much better photo. Keep these tips in mind next time you want to capture some of our region’s scenery. Damon Roloff is a photography student at Dawson College. Follow him on Instagram at @youdontneedlegstodrive
Vaudreuil-Soulanges Trivia Quiz BETH SHILLIBEER Our beautiful Vaudreuil-Soulanges area is full of fascinating people, events and features. How many of these questions on local matters can you answer correctly? 1. Santiago move over, we have our very own pilgrimage route though the area. It starts at Notre Dame Cathedral in Ottawa, going straight through Rigaud and Husdon before terminating at what landmark? 2. Our popular Member of Parliament Peter Schiefke has been our representative since 2015. What job did he have before he was elected? 3. What can be found on the most easterly point of the Vaudreuil-Soulanges region, still catching the breeze off Lac St. Louis? 4. Residents and visitors have enjoyed the opportunity to ski at Mont Rigaud ski resort for decades but what well-rounded activity do they offer in the summer? 5. As part of the Western Quebec Seismic Zone, we get earthquakes here. What is the strongest recorded earthquake in the Vaudreuil-Soulanges area? 6. Who started the locally based radio station, CJVD-FM 100.1, and still anchors a
morning program? 7. In the 18th century land ownership was based on the French Seigneurial system but Canton Newton was the only part of our area set up using the British township system. What town still exists there? 8. What local poetry group that began at the Greenwood Centre for Living History’s 2007 Storyfest open mic event celebrated National Poetry Month last April? 9. Locally born Norbert Murphy won a bronze medal in what event at the 2012 Summer Paralympics, becoming Canada’s only Olympic medal winner of the 21st century in the sport? 10. According to a 2019 Léger poll of Quebec’s 50 largest cities, Vaudreuil-Dorion ranks 14thb on what enjoyable index? Answers (and fact sources) 1. Saint Joseph Oratory, Montreal https://catholicottawa.com/pilgrimages/ http://www.canada.com/travel/walked+montreal +from+ottawa/938382/story.html
2. National Director of Climate Reality Canada https://pschiefke.liberal.ca/en/biography/
3. Pointe du Moulin windmill https://pointedumoulin.com/en/history/ https://www.google.com/maps/place/VaudreuilSoulanges+Regional+County+Municipality,+ QC/@45.374823,-74.4310703,10z/data=!3m
We have a vast selection of puzzles for all ages, children and adults.
Drop in for a visit. You’ll be amazed!
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1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x4cc94af910b1cb6b:0x 9c503559e2a90771!8m2!3d45.3834123!4d74.2591416?hl=en
4. Mountain biking: rentals, lessons and 15km of trails https://ski.montrigaud.com/the-station/history-44 http://ete.montrigaud.com/home 5. 3 http://www.seismescanada.rncan.gc.ca/zones/ eastcan-en.php#WQSZ
6. Yves Sauvé http://cjvd.ca/index.php/shows/ http://www.broadcasting-history.ca/listing_ and_histories/radio/cjvd-fm
7. Ste-Justine-de-Newton
https://www.archivesvs.org/histo/rubriqueshistoriques/newton.html?page=histo/rubriqueshistoriques/newton.html
8. The Greenwood Poets https://sundayat6mag.wordpress.com/
9. Archery (Men’s Individual Compound W1 event) https://www.cbc.ca/sports/canada-adds2-bronze-medals-at-paralympics-1.1160866 https://archerycanada.ca/paralympic-team-his tory/
10.Happiness https://leger360.com/wp-content/upl oads/2019/02/Rapport-Villes-du-bonheur.pdf https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/ off-island-gazette/tomkinson-vaudreuildorionranked-one-of-the-happiest-towns-in-quebec
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Good news on climate change BETH SHILLIBEER
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co-anxiety, a condition now officially recognized by the American Psychological Association, has a rising number of sufferers the world and it’s not surprising given all the dire warnings about the devastating effects of climate change. Yes, we need to know the very real dangers but we also need to balance this out with a sense of hope in our ability to correct the problems. A regular dose of news on successful actions, innovations being discovered or implemented and inspiring stories of individual action can pull us out of paralyzing dread and move us into an energizing stream of action. To get your energy flowing toward positive action, here are a few websites you can sign up for to get a regular dose of good news on the ecological front. The Daily Climate The Daily Climate’s mission is to bring ‘News for a changing planet, free to your inbox.’ Curating news from the web, they collect articles on a variety of themes including a section dubbed ‘Good News.’ A quick look there led to an article about a dairy company with plans to be ‘carbon positive’ by 2025 and another about the many clever ways South Korea is composting its way to some pretty big benefits. Get ready to feel invigorated, as in, yes! We can do this! Reading their About Page shows this is a team of scientists and journalists dedi-
cated to bringing climate news to a worried public. If you subscribe, they have various options for the rate and number of newsletters delivered. You can unsubscribe at any time. Find their work at: www.dailyclimate. org/ Happy Eco News Happy Eco News offers curated articles under various headings including ‘Climate,’ ‘Nature’ and ‘Science.’ Subscribing gives you a weekly email containing a small essay and links to the ‘Weekly Top 5’ stories. The email essay is an informative, yet action-orientated letter on a weekly theme. One sample week was about carbon and it gave a brief overview of the subject and why it’s important. Hey, not all of us are up on the science! It’s a nice addition – like a chat with your fellow eco-buddy. A self-proclaimed moderate environmentalist, founder Grant B. started his website in order to counteract the depressing effects of too much bad news. From his perch in British Columbia, he nurtures his new initiative and hopes to spread the good news far and wide. Read and subscribe here: happyeconews.com/ Good News Network Good News Network offers ‘A Morning Jolt of Good News’ every weekday containing three or four positive news articles. Not all are climate related but, with climate change being one of the top ‘downers’ in everyone’s day, they try to include at least one
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ecological bit of good news. For example, a story was recently featured about biodegradable diapers that takes back used diapers for composting. What a boon to new parents! Another article reveals how a Japanese scientist may have found a solution to making hydrogen fuel feasible. Solutions like that lift us all up with possibilities. Good News Network is still under the loving care of its founder Geri Weis-Corbley. She has been dubbed the ‘Good News Guru’ by the Washington Post and her mission is to uplift us all with stories of real hope and action in the world. Subscription gives you an email Monday to Friday and can be altered anytime. Find out more at www.goodnewsnetwork.org/ Tank’s Good News Recently endorsed by none other than Prince Harry, Tank’s Good News delivers positive news of all sorts. A look at the website shows categories like ‘Real Life Heroes’ and ‘Celebrities With Heart’. Using the search tool also provided many links for ‘climate change,’ new articles not seen on other good news networks, and very inspiring. It’s not clear who is behind this collection. For those who are scrupulous, you may want to dig further before giving your email. Others may be reminded of the saying, ‘Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.’ Good news helps – whoever the messenger is. Besides, would a prince recommend a bad thing? Decide for yourself at: tanksgoodnews. com/
How to plant a garden insects love
BETH SHILLIBEER
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elcoming bugs to your garden is not only pleasurable (we get to watch the pretty butterflies!) but it’s becoming essential for the health of our ecosystem. From pollination to bird food, insects are a foundation of the life cycle. With garden season winding to a close, it’s never too late to plan for next year to incorporate some of these insect friendly plants and techniques into your future green endeavours. Garnered from the David Suzuki Foundation and Espace Pour La Vie Montreal websites, here are some guidelines to get your started. General tips Bugs love mess. Purposely leave some of the twigs, fallen branches and leaf litter laying just where it is. Or create a messy corner of the yard if you prefer. This mess provides safe spaces for egg-laying and bug hanging-out. Certain species of bees need bare earth too. Let veggies, bushes and grasses grow a little wilder. Letting things go to seed provides habitat and forage for insects and birds. Provide a bug-friendly water source.
Since many insects – including butterflies and bees – can drown in a bird bath or pond, provide some shallow sources of water at ground level. An old pail lid or plate works, or any similar shallow container. Put some rocks in it, making sure the tops stay dry, to act as perches for the tiny critters. The bees will love you for it. If you place the water near your plants it will have the added bonus of attracting aphid-eating ladybugs. Plants bugs love Bugs go wild over native plants. They contain more nutrition and have simpler blossoms for reaching the nectar and pollen. Whenever possible choose a plant native to our area. Choose bright colours! Bees love blues, purples, white and yellow while butterflies also like white and yellow but add pinks, reds and oranges. Hummingbirds go for red too. It seems sunflowers have an all-around appeal with their bright, big heads attracting all sorts of bugs and birds. Bugs also love plants all year round so try to plan for successive blooming. Early to late, they need various levels of nutrients from the plants. Even in winter the hollow stalks, leaf litter and mulch provide necessary nutrients and protection. So, for
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example, you might plan primrose for the early season, lavender for the middle and sunflower for the end. Recommended plants Many native varieties are available at local nurseries. Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), for example, a native plants especially loved by Monarch butterfliess, goes on sale in the spring. For shadier areas of your garden try the Heart-leaved aster (Symphyotrichum cordifolium) or the Canada violet (Viola canadensis). Climbers like the Virginia Clematis (Clematis virginiana and shrubs like the common winterberry (lex verticillata) or elderberry (Sambucus canadensis) can add dimensions and variety to your insect garden. Even non-native annuals and perennials can be used to help our insect and bird population. Marigolds, nasturtium, and sweet alyssum are popular with both gardeners and bugs. Many herb plants are equally useful. Try planting some dill, lavender, parsley and mint and delight yourself while providing much needed assistance to our arthropod friends.
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